Web roll replacement



June 1, 1943. Q Q o s 2,320,658

- wsa 126m. REPLACEMENT Filed Jan. 15, 1942 v 2 She ets-Sheot 1 6 0 G we 7&9

mvzu-ron Qatar C #08502 June 1, 1943. b. c. ROESEN 2,320,658

WEB ROLL' REPLACEMENT Filed Jan. 13, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- v INVENTOR flsc'ar CT fiaas-m ATTORNEYS Patented June 1, 1943 was Roar. REPLACEMENT Oscar C. Itoesen, Scarsdale, N. Y.. assignor to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation, Plainfleld, N. 1., a corporation of Virginia j Application January 1:, 1942, se r isl1v .4zs,557

Claims.

This invention relates to the-replacement of webs fed to, printing presses and other web-consuming apparatus. It particularly concerns the operation of splicing theleading end of the web on a new or replacement'roll to the web running to" a press or other apparatus from a. roll that is nearly depleted.

The paper web fed to a printing press is supplied in large rolls which must be replaced during the press operation and preferably without topping the press or reducing its speed. since the -,-running web travels at: a very high speed,

it is'essential that prior to splicing, the new roll be accelerated until its cylindrical surface nttains or approximates the velocity of the runhing web to which it is spliced. Because of the high web speed and the inherent weakness of the web, the splicing operation is quite critical 'and has in the past been a source of frequent breakage of the we infthe output of th press.

fllie present invention contemplates an improved method and apparatus for splicing a'web with consequent reduction tram a new roll to a rapidly moving web running from an expiring roll. Accordingto the F present invention, a prepared adhesive is fixed to the web on a new roll at or near its leading edge, the adhesive being of such nature that it it will not adhere "to an uncoated surface brought in contact therewith, but will tenacio'usly adhere to or cohere with a similar adhesive layer. Adhesives having this propery are hereinafter referred "to as self-sticking adhesives. The new web roll is accelerated by contact between its surface and the n n nir'lg web, and when the roll supplying the run-' ning web is suiliciently depicted, a sheet carry-j ing a .layer of the self-sticking adhesive is iixed to the surface'of the running web as it apf preaches the point of contact with the new roll, and immediately thereafter the two seli-sticking adhesive layers are brought together with a the result that the leading end oi tli web on thenew roll is spliced to the running web.

The invention will be described more'i'n de- 'tail in connection'with an embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevation. of, a web roll and associated apparst for use in "practicing the-invention, the parts ing in the 'positicn in which the web is runningiirom one roll'rbeiore replaeement'thereoi is required;

tom. 1 show- 2 is an elevation ing the reel in the position it occupies while the new roll isbeing accelerated and just prior to the splicing operation; a Fig. 3 is a'similar elevation of the reel showing therelation of the parts when the-prepared adhesive carrying sheet is being applied to the running web;

Fig. 4 is a similar elevation showing the parts when the splice is being made:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end'view ot the pre-' pared sheet applying cylinder and associated .lm' f Fig. 6 is an edge view ofthe preferred adhesive carrying sheet:

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a new roll prepared for use in accordance with the invention;

and a Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the reel and associated mechanism, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In accordance with the invention, the leading or'outer end ll of the new roll 24 is provided with a layer of self-sticking adhesive over I one or more areas of its outer surface as illustrated at It in Fig. 7. The adhesive used is applied to the web in fluid form and tenaciously adheres thereto, and thereafter the exposed surface of the applied layer can be readily dried to a point where such surface will not adhere to an uncoated. web surface pressed against it, but will adhere tenaciously to a similar dried exposed adhesive surface. Thus the self-sticlring adhesive is one which adheres to the web when appliedin fluid form and when dried its surface coheres with or adheres to a like or similar adhesive surface but does not adhere to uncoated.surfaces. 1

An adhesive suitable for the purpose described ma'y'comprise any oneoi a number of known non-vulcanizing rubber cements. In general, these. cements comprise raw unvulcanized rubber, usually subjectedto a small amount of hot milling, dissolved in a suitable solvent. Solvents employed in such cements include gasoline, benzene, ethylene dichloride, carbon tetrachloride, varnish maker's andpainters naphtha,

and a special rubber solvent comprising a petroleum distillate having an initial boiling point of from about to F. and an end point of room about 250 to 288 F. The amount oi:

rubber in such cements runs up to 8% or 10%.

'and known solvent diluents such as isopropanol,

ethanol, butanol, amyl acetate, buty'l acetate, acetone, or methyl ethyl ketone are sometimes added. A commercial rubber cement suitable forv the described'purposeis available on the The leading or outer end ll of the web on the -new roll 25 is preferably removably secured to the roll surface by any suitable known means. In the disclosed embodiment, frangible gummed tabs ll are used for this purpose, but a weak adhesive, sticking the leading end II to the surface of the next layer of the web on the roll, may be used in accordance with known practice. The opposite ends of the tabs ll illustrated are respectively stuck to the outer surface of the leading end ll of the web and to the surface of the next layer of the web on the roll, and a weakened portion such as a line of perforations l5 separates the tab ends so that the tabs tear along this line and release the leading end of the web when it is spliced to a running web and pulled away from the roll. Frangible tabs of this type are described in detail in Wood Patent No. 1,996,497.

The layer of self-sticking adhesive may be applied as shown in Fig. '1 overa relatively narrow area on the outersurface of the web at or adjacent its leading end The adhesive is applied in fluid form and is dried by exposure to air, by mild heat, by heatedor dried air currents or otherwise until its exposed surface will not adhere to :an uncoated web surface, but will adhere to a similarly dried surface of the same or a similar adhesive.

In accordance with the invention, the inner or core end of the web on each roll is not prepared for the splicing operation until the web from such roll has run off to the point where replacement is required. At this point, a prepared sheet carrying a self-sticking adhesive layer is stuck or otherwise fixed to the web running from the expiring roll. vOne form of apparatus capable of performing this operation has been illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5.

The apparatus shown includes a conventional three-roll reel 6 which turns about a central axis l1 and carries three spindles l8, l9 and 26. The spindle I6 is shown carrying a roll 2| from which the running web 22 .passes over an idler roll'23-to the press or other web-consuming equipment. New rolls 24 and 25 are shown mounted respectively on the spindles I9 and 26. A set of tension belts 26 extends parallel to the roll surfaces around the rollers 21, 26, 29, 36, 3| and 32, and a weighted or otherwise biased idler 33 maintains the belts at the desired tension. The belts 26 are preferably driven at a speed substantially equal to that of the running web 22 by suitable means such as a shaft 34 connected to the press or other web-consuming equipment. The belts 26 are relatively narrow and are spaced transversely of the web as shown in Fig. 8.

The prepared adhesive carrying sheet is applied to the inner surface of the running web 22 by suitable means such as a cylinder 35. The cylinder .35 is rotatably carried between spaced arms constituting an arcuate frame 36. The frame 36 is suitably mounted to swing from a retracted position shown in Fig. 1 to an operating, position shown in Fig. 2, and in this movement the frame 36 carries the cylinder 35 between the reel arms 62 and adjacent the running web 22.- As shown, the frame 36 may be fixed to a shaft 31. The

- tiated by closure of the switch 65.

' market under'the trade name Best-Test White shaft 31 and the connected frame 36 may be turned by a suitable reversible motor 36 connected through an irreversible wprm 39 and an intermediate gear 46 to a gear 4| fast on the shaft 31.

The cylinder 35 is rotated about its shaft 42 at such a speed as to give it a peripheral velocity substantially equal to the velocity of the running web when the splice is made. This may be accomplished by driving the shaft 42 through a series of chains or belts l3 interconnecting by sprockets 44 rotatably fixed to spaced points along an arm of the frame 36, the drive being completed through a sprocket 41 rotatably carried by the shaft 31, a chain 48, a sprocket 46, a

disconnecting clutch 56, and a drive shaft 5|z' The, shaft 5| may be driven from the press or other web-consuming equipment.

Suitable means are provided for pressing the running web 22 against the cylinder 35 when a splice is to be made. In the disclosed embodiment, a plurality of pressing rollers 53 are provided for this purpose, each roller being rotatably J'ournaled between a pair of arms .55 so that it passes between adjacent tension belts 26 as shown in Fig. 8. The arms 5| are all fixed to a shaft 55 journaled in a frame 56, and the arms are normally held in retracted position as shown in Fig. 2 by suitable means such as a spring 51.

The arms 54 may be simultaneously swung for ward to move the rollers 53 toward the cylinder 35 by suitable means such as a solenoid 56 acting as an armature comprising a cross-bar 53 secured to'all of the arms 54.

gear 6|, fixed to the shaft 66, meshes with the' gear 4| on the shaft 3'1.

The rollers 53 are moved to their web pressing positions in timed relation with the angular position of the cylinder 35, fora purpose to be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit for energizing the solenoid 56 includes a source of electrical energy indicated by the positive and negative signs, a manually operable push button switch 52, and a movable contact 63 on the shaft 62 of the cylinder 35 which periodically engages a fixed contact 64 during a predetermined portion of each rotation of the cylinder. A holding relay 15 is connected as shown so as to be energized in parallel with the solenoid 56 when both the switch 62 and the cylinder contacts 63 and 64 are closed, and when energized, this relay is maintained energized through its contacts 16 until the switch 52 is opened. The contacts 16 maintain a holding circuit for the solenoid 56 after contacts 63 and 66 open.

The movement of the cylinder and pressing roller frames 36 and 56 may be controlled in various ways. In the disclosed embodiment I have illustrated a reversing switch 65 connected to' supply electric current to the motor 36 in opposite directions when closed in opposite positions. Normally closed limit switches 66 and 61, which are respectively opened by pins 66 and 63 on the intermediate gear 46 when the frames are moved to their retracted and operating positions, serve to deener lze the motor 36 and so arrest the movement of the frames, after movement is ini- Witli the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 2, the frames may be retracted by closing the switch 65 inthe left-hand position. thus energizing the turning the gear 42 clockwise until the pin-i opens the limit switch ll. Thereafter. closure of rying an applied and dried coating ii on the surface thereof which becomes the exposed surface when the sheet is secured to the web. The sheet ll may be formed of any thin flexible material such as thin paper, a thin transparent sheet of regenerated cellulose or cellulose derivative, or the like. The coating "II preferably comprises a layer of self-sticking adhesive of the type described above which is applied to the sheet in fluid form and dried thereon to the point where it will not adhere to a superimposed surface of the sheet. The adhesive coating Il may be applied to the sheet in any desired manner as by spraying or wiping from a blade, roller or the like. A layer of tacky adhesive 12 which may comprise rosin glue, paste, or thelike. is applied to the'surface of the sheet 'II' which is to engage the web 22. The area of the tacky adhesive 12 is confined to a portion of the sheet adjacent one end thereof. as shown in Fig. 6. a

The sheet is preferably substantially the same width as the web 22 to which it is attached, and is at' least as long as the peripheral circumference of the largest new web roll to be spliced onto the running web. The sheet is wound around the cylinder 3! with the self-sticking adhesive layer ll inward, and since the cylinder is considerably smaller than a new'web roll, the sheet ll forms several superimposed turns on the cylinder. The tacky adhesive coatingl2 is disposed at the outer end of the wound sheet,

and, as shown in Fig. 5, this layer is ofsuch extent that it covers a part only of the periphery of the wound sheet, leaving a bare section 12.

The sheet is so wound on the cylinder that the movable contact 82 on the cylinder shaft 42 engages the stationary contact 84 only when the bare section-I3 of the sheet is 'oppositethe pressing rollers 62. In other words. the bare section II is substantially radially aligned with the movable contact 83. The free end of the sheet 10 is removably secured to the underlying turn thereof by suitable means such-as frangible tabs.

I4 which may be-Iof the same construction as the tabs" described above.

The. replacement of a web roll in accordance with the'invention will now be described. With the'electric circuits open. the clutch Bl disconnected and the frames 36 and in their retracted positions as shown in'Fig. 1, a sheet II, prepared as described above. is mounted on the cylinder in the manner explained. The web 22 is running from the roll 2|. and when this belts 2:, as shown -in Fig. 2. The reel is is stopped in this position, and the moving web 22 accelerates the new roll 24 until its peripheral apropos motor ll through the closed limit switch 08 and g velocity substantially equals the web speed. The self-sticking adhesive layer I t on the leading edge of the new roll 24 periodically contacts the running web 22 as the roll turns but due to its above explained characteristics this adhesive does not adhere to the running web.

As soon as the reel it has been stopped in the position shown in Fig. 2, the operatormoves the frames 38 and 56 to the.operating positions by closing the switch in the left-hand position as shown in the drawings. The clutch 50 is closed and the cylinder 38 is thereby accelerated to and driven at web speed. When the roll 24 has accelerated to web speed and the expiring roll 2| has run on to the point where it is almost completely depleted, the operator closes the manual switch 62 and holds it closed for an interval sufficient to complete the splicing operation. As

soon as the movable contact 63 engages the sta-' when the contacts 83 and 84 close. Initial engagement of. the running web 22 with the bare section 13 of the sheet I0 insures that the leading end of the sheet is stuck to the running web before any following part thereof. Continued .rotation of the cylinder 35 brings the leading end of the sheet I0 into the nip between the pressing rollers 53 and the cylinder lifand the tacky adhesive 12 sticks the sheet to the web. The tabs 14 are broken and the sheet Ill unwinds from the cylinder 35 and travels alongwith the web 22, the self-sticking adhesive ll being on the exposed surface on the sheet (Fig. 3). Immediately thereafter. the layer ll of the selfsticking adhesive engages the cylindrical surface of the new roll 24 and moves along it in engagement therewith until it comes opposite and presses against the self-sticking adhesive layer -II on the leading end of the-web on the new roller. and thereupon the two self-sticking adhesivelayers cohere and ilrmly secure the end of the new web to the running web through the sheet ill. The mutual engagementof the selfsticking adhesive layers .is insured by the fact that the sheet 10 bearing the layer H is as long or longer than the maximum circumference of the new roll.

Immediately after the webs arethus spliced together; the leading end of the web of the new roll 24 is pulled away from the roll surface, the tabs l4 or other web end securing means being separated. The web from the newroll then becomes the-running web and the reel It may be further rotated clockwise to increase the wrap ofthe belts about its surface and so increase the tension'control as may be required.

If desired, the old web may be severed by any suitable known means after the splice is made.

When the splicing operation is completed the;

' switch 62 is opened, deenergizing the relay I5 and the solenoid 58. and the frames 36 and 56 are moved to their retracted'positions by closinthe reversing switch 65 in the right-hand position. The clutch is opened,'discontinuin1z rotation of the cylinder 25, and a new prepared sheet 10 is placed 'on the cylinder as explained above.

The stub of the expired roll 2| is'replaced by a new roll with its leading end prepared as explained, and the apparatus is then in condition to perform the next operation.

It should be understood that the above described splicing operation is not limited to the use of a conventional three-roll reel, but is equally applicable to a two-roll reel, a roll stand, or

any other roll carrying mechanism capable of f fixing the flexible sheet to the out any reduction in web speed and without the 7 use of any special; roll accelerating means. This avoid the necessity of corelating the diameter of each new'roll to. the web speed and adjusting a spindle drive accordingly, and eliminates the .use of speed-up belts movable into engagement with each new roll in turn.

A particular advantage of the invention is that it permits preparation of conventional web rolls for splicing by application of adhesive to the leading end of the web only, and does not requ re the use of rolls with specially prepared core ends.

I claim:

1. In a method of splicing the leading end of a web on a new web roll to a web running from-an expiring web roll, the steps of applying and dry ing a layer of self-sticking adhesive 'on the outer surface of the web on the new roll substantially at it leading end, contacting the cylindrical surface of the new roll with the inner surface of the running web whereby the new roll is accelerated. and fixing to the inner surface of the runnin web approaching the new web roll a flexible sheet having an exposed surface carrying a self-sticking adhesive whereby upon contact of such sheet carried adhesive with the self-sticking adhesive layer on the new roll, the, webs are spliced together through said sheet.

2. In a method of splicing the leading end ofa web on a new web roll to a web running from an expiring 'web roll, the steps of applying and drying a layer'of self-sticking adhesive on the outer surface of the web on the new roll substantially at its leading end, contacting the cylindrical surface of the new roll with the inner surface of the running web whereby the new roll is accelerated by the running ,web to a surface velocity substantially equal to the velocity of the running web,

applying and drying a self-sticking adhesive coating on one surface of a flexible sheet at least as long as the circumference of the new web roll, applying a tacky adhesive to the other surface of the said sheet, moving the sheet at substantially the speed of the running web in the direction of web travel with the tacky surface of the sheet adjacent the inner surface of the running web approaching the new web roll, and pressing the sheet and web together to stick the sheet onto the web whereby contact of the self-sticking adhesive layers on the sheet and the new roll web splices the webs to ether.

, 3. In a method of splicing the leading and of a web on a new web roll to a web running from an expiring web roll, the steps of applying and drying a self-sticking adhesive layer on both the outer, surface'of the web on the new roll substanof the new roll, contacting the cylindrical surface of the new roll with the inner surface of the running web whereby the new roll is accelerated. and inner surface of the running web approaching the new roll with the self-sticking adhesive carrying surface of the sheet exposed whereby contact of the self-sticking adhesive layers on the sheet and the new roll I web splices the webs together.

4. In a method of splicing the leading and ofa web on a new web roll to a web running from an expiring web roll, the steps of applying and drying a self-sticking adhesive layer on both the outer surface of the web on the new roll substantially at its leading end and one surface of a flex-- ible sheet at least as long as the circumference of the new roll, applying'a layer of tacky adhesive to the flexible sheet on the surface opposite that carryi g the self-sticking adhesive layer. contacting the cylindrical surface of the new roll with the inner surface of the running web whereby the new roll is accelerated substantially to web speed, moving the flexible sheet adjacent the .inner surface of the running web approaching the new roll at substantially the speed of themning 'web and with the tech adhesive bearing surface of the sheet adjacent the web, and pressing the sheet and the running web together whereby the sheet is stuck to the web and thereafter contact between the self-sticking adhesive layers on the sheet and the new roll web splices the webs together.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a new web roll and an expiring web roll, the running web from the expiring roll having its inner surface in contact with the cylindrical surface of the new web roll. a movable support adjacent the inner surface of the running web approaching the new roll for carrying a flexible sheet with a prepared coating thereon and an adhesive on its outer surface, means for moving said support substantially parallel to the path of the running web and at substantially the speed of the-running web and means for pressing the running web and the moving support together whereby a flexible sheet'carrying adhesive on its outer surface is transferred from said support to the inner surface of the running web and is thus brought in contact with the cylindrical surface of the new roll by movement of the running web.

6. In apparatus of the character described, in

combination, a new web roll and an expiring web roll, the running web from the expiring roll having its inner surface in contact with the cylindrical surface of the new web roll, a rotatable cylinder adjacent the inner surface of the running web approaching the new roll for carrying aflexible sheet with a prepared coating thereon and an adhesive -on its outer surface, means for rotating said cylinder at a surface velocity substantially equal to the speed of the running web, and means on the opposite side of the rlmning web from said cylinder for pressing the running web in contact with said cylinder whereby a flexible sheet carrying adhesive on its 'outer surface is transferred from said cylinder to the inner surface of the running web and thereafter contacts the surface of the new roll.

'7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a new web roll and an expiring web roll, the running web from the expiring roll having its inner surface in contact with the cylindritially at its leading end and one surface of a flexible sheet at least as long as the circumference cal surface of the new web roll, a rotatable cylinder adjacent the inner surface of the running web approaching the new roll, a flexible sheet carried on the surface of said cylinder and having a layer of self-sticking adhesive on its inner surface and a layer of tacky adhesive on its outer surface, means for rotating said cylinder at a surface velocity substantially equal to the speed of the running web, and means on the opposite side of the running web from said cylinder for pressing the running web in contact with the outer surface of said flexible sheet whereby the sheet is stuck to the web and removed from the cylinder and the inner surface of said sheet is brought in contact with the cylindrical surface of the new roll.

8. In apparatus of the character, described, in combination, a new web roll, a layer of self-sticking adhesive on the outer surface of the web on said new web roll adjacent its leading end, an ex piring web roll and a running web passing from theexpiring roll with its inner surface in contact 7 with thevcylindrical surface of the new roll, a rotatable cylinder parallel to the new and expiring web rolls, means for moving said cylinder to a position adjacent the inner surface of the running web approaching the new roll, a flexible sheet carried on the cylindrical surface of said cylinder and having a layer of self-sticking adhesive on its inner surface and a layer of tacky adhosive on its outer surface, means for rotating said cylinder at a surface velocity substantially equal to the speed of the running web, and means for pressing the running web into contact with the outer surface of said flexible sheet whereby the sheet is stuck to the runningweb and removed from the cylinder and the inner surface of the sheet is brought in contact with the cylindrical surface of the new roll.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in

combination, a rotatable web roll reel having a plurality of arms, a new web roll and an expiring web roll rotatably carried on'adjacentarms of 10; In apparatus of the character described, in,

combination, a rotatable web roll reel having a plurality of arms, a riew web roll and an expiring web roll rotatably carried on adjacent arms of said reel, a layer of self-sticking adhesive on the outer surface of the web on said new roll adjacent its leading end, a running web passing from the expiring web roll with its surface in contact with the cylindrical surface of the new roll, a rotatable cylinder parallelto the new and expiring webrolls, a flexible sheet carried on the surface of said cylinder and having a layer of self-sticking adhesive on its innensurface and a layer of tacky adhesive on its outer surface, means for rotating said cylinder at substantially the speed of the running web, means for pressing the running web] approaching the new roll toward said cylinder, means for movingsaid cylinder and said pressing means from retracted positions out of the path of said reel to operating positions on opposite sides of the running web between the roll carrying arms of said reel, and means for controlling the operation of said pressing means in accordance with the angular position of said cylinder.

OSCAR C. ROESEN.

Patent no. g,-52o, 658. June 1, 1915.

CERTIFICATE OF connEqTIon.

OSCAR 'c. BoEsENf It is hereliy certified that error appeara inthe printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring orrectl as fdll wfi 8 51 0nd 'colunin, line 149, for room read --fro1 nan'd thgtthe said L'etters Patgnt shoulribe read with-this corrctio n therein that the aame may min-- form to the record of the case in-the Patent Office.

' signed and sailed this 6th day of July, A; b.1915.

I ienry' Van Arsdaie, (Se a1) 7 A'ctin'g Commissioner bf Patgn t. I 

